The best summer plants for bees
Most gardens are at their best in June and empty by late August. The plants worth adding are the ones that flower after the first flush is over.
June to August · 191 plants in flower · 85 through the whole season
What to prioritise
The competition here is fierce — almost everything flowers in June — so the useful question is not what flowers in summer but what flowers in late August. Marjoram, knapweed, scabious, agastache, Russian sage, sedum and heather all carry a garden through the point at which the June planting has finished. A second flush from cutting back catmint, geranium and salvia in early July costs nothing and buys six weeks.
The summer mistake
Deadheading everything and cutting the herbs before they flower. Both remove exactly the forage the plant was going to provide, and both are done for tidiness rather than for the plant's benefit.
How this list is built
Every plant in the catalogue whose flowering window overlaps June to August. The heaviest nectar section below is a filter to the top nectar band present this season and preserves catalogue order within it — there is no ranking, because nothing in the records would justify one.
Months here are northern-hemisphere temperate. Southern-hemisphere readers should shift by roughly six months — but that shift is an approximation rather than a translation, because day length, rainfall pattern and the local flora do not shift with it. Records that genuinely span both hemispheres say so.
The heaviest nectar plants of summer
- LavenderLavandula angustifoliaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- ThymeThymusMay to August. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- White cloverTrifolium repensMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- BrambleRubus fruticosusJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- HeatherCalluna vulgarisAugust to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Wildflower meadowMixed native floraApril to September. Nectar very high, pollen very high.Major honey crop
- LimeTilia cordataJune to July. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- EucalyptusEucalyptusJanuary to December. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- SourwoodOxydendrum arboreumJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen low.Major honey crop
- Oilseed rapeBrassica napusApril to June. Nectar very high, pollen very high.Major honey crop
- BorageBorago officinalisJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- PhaceliaPhacelia tanacetifoliaJune to October. Nectar very high, pollen very high.Minor honey crop
- Rosebay willowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Viper's buglossEchium vulgareJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- SageSalviaMay to October. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- MarjoramOriganum vulgareJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- CatmintNepetaMay to October. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- ComfreySymphytum officinaleMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
In flower through the whole of summer
- LavenderLavandula angustifoliaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- ThymeThymusMay to August. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- White cloverTrifolium repensMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- BrambleRubus fruticosusJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Wildflower meadowMixed native floraApril to September. Nectar very high, pollen very high.Major honey crop
- EucalyptusEucalyptusJanuary to December. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- SourwoodOxydendrum arboreumJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen low.Major honey crop
- AlfalfaMedicago sativaJune to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- BorageBorago officinalisJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- PhaceliaPhacelia tanacetifoliaJune to October. Nectar very high, pollen very high.Minor honey crop
- DandelionTaraxacum officinaleMarch to October. Nectar high, pollen very high.Minor honey crop
- Rosebay willowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Viper's buglossEchium vulgareJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- SageSalviaMay to October. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- CatmintNepetaMay to October. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- ComfreySymphytum officinaleMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- VerbenaVerbena bonariensisJune to November. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- CalendulaCalendula officinalisMay to December. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenumJune to September. Nectar high, pollen low.Not a honey source
- RaspberryRubus idaeusMay to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Red cloverTrifolium pratenseMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Bird's-foot trefoilLotus corniculatusMay to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- KnapweedCentaurea nigraJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- YarrowAchillea millefoliumJune to October. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- CornflowerCentaurea cyanusJune to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Common poppyPapaver rhoeasMay to August. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Hardy geraniumGeraniumMay to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- AlliumAlliumApril to August. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Sweet cloverMelilotus officinalisJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- BanksiaBanksiaMarch to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Dead-nettleLamiumJanuary to December. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- GorseUlex europaeusJanuary to December. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Lamb's earStachys byzantinaJune to August. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- BetonyBetonica officinalisJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- HyssopHyssopus officinalisJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmariaJune to September. Nectar low, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Purple loosestrifeLythrum salicariaJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Oxeye daisyLeucanthemum vulgareMay to September. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Wild carrotDaucus carotaJune to September. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Tufted vetchVicia craccaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- WallflowerErysimumMarch to November. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- HebeHebeJune to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- MesquiteProsopisApril to August. Nectar high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- CottonGossypium hirsutumJune to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Silver firAbies albaJune to September. Nectar none, pollen low.Major honey crop
- Norway sprucePicea abiesJune to September. Nectar none, pollen low.Major honey crop
- Yellow starthistleCentaurea solstitialisJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- Cabbage palmSabal palmettoJune to August. Nectar high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Yellow rattleRhinanthus minorMay to August. Nectar moderate, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- CatsearHypochaeris radicataJune to September. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Small scabiousScabiosa columbariaJune to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- White bryonyBryonia dioicaMay to September. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Not a honey source
- HogweedHeracleum sphondyliumJune to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- SelfhealPrunella vulgarisJune to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Common ragwortJacobaea vulgarisJune to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Lemon balmMelissa officinalisJune to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Squash and pumpkinCucurbita pepoJune to September. Nectar high, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Bell heatherErica cinereaJune to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- Black mangroveAvicennia germinansJune to August. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- MarmeleiroCrotonJune to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- SnowberrySymphoricarpos albusJune to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- GojiLycium barbarumJune to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- Bitter aloeAloe feroxJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- TamariskTamarixMay to August. Nectar moderate, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- Woodland sageSalvia nemorosaJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- EscalloniaEscallonia rubraJune to October. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Shrubby cinquefoilDasiphora fruticosaMay to October. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Not a honey source
- St John's wortHypericum perforatumJune to September. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Tree mallowMalva arboreaJune to October. Nectar high, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- HollyhockAlcea roseaJune to September. Nectar high, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- California poppyEschscholzia californicaMay to September. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- CorianderCoriandrum sativumJune to August. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- AngelicaAngelica archangelicaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Giant catmintNepeta racemosaMay to October. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- MotherwortLeonurus cardiacaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- MoringaMoringa oleiferaJanuary to December. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- Coconut palmCocos nuciferaJanuary to December. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Oil palmElaeis guineensisJanuary to December. Nectar low, pollen very high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Common milkweedAsclepias syriacaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen low.Minor honey crop
- Spanish needleBidens albaJanuary to December. Nectar high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- SafflowerCarthamus tinctoriusJune to August. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Yellow gumEucalyptus leucoxylonMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Swamp mahoganyEucalyptus robustaMay to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Five fingerPseudopanax arboreusMay to August. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- WilgaGeijera parvifloraJune to October. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
What this group covers
12 of 12 months have something in flower. Nectar and pollen are counted separately and a month counts only where at least one plant offers that resource at moderate value or better — a plant in flower is not the same as a plant worth visiting.
| Month | In flower | Nectar | Pollen |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | Yes | Yes |
| February | 7 | Yes | Yes |
| March | 12 | Yes | Yes |
| April | 31 | Yes | Yes |
| May | 78 | Yes | Yes |
| June | 138 | Yes | Yes |
| July | 148 | Yes | Yes |
| August | 138 | Yes | Yes |
| September | 113 | Yes | Yes |
| October | 50 | Yes | Yes |
| November | 17 | Yes | Yes |
| December | 8 | Yes | Yes |
By what you are planting
Check these against your region before planting
31 plants in this group carry an invasiveness or legal restriction note somewhere in the world: Bramble, Eucalyptus, Viper's bugloss, Buddleia, Honeysuckle, Goldenrod, Knapweed, Teasel, Cotoneaster, Thistle, Gorse, Purple loosestrife, Oxeye daisy, Fennel, Tufted vetch, Broom, Black locust, Mesquite, Yellow starthistle, Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed, Common ragwort, Chinese tallow, Tamarisk, Buckthorn, Sweet rocket, St John's wort, Tree of heaven, Babul, Niaouli, Spanish needle. HoneyHQ does not know where you are and will not guess, so it flags rather than filters.
Bees these plants are recorded with
Taken from the relationships on each plant record. These are the well-attested associations rather than an exhaustive list of visitors, so treat the number as a floor.
Honeys from these plants
- Lavender honeyOvertly perfumed — lavender flower, warm hay and a soft fruity sweetness underneath. Aromatic in a way most honeys are not.
- Alcarria honeyDelicate and aromatic, with a clean herbal sweetness — the rosemary type is softer and more floral, the lavender type more perfumed and slightly camphoraceous.
- Rosmaninho honeyAromatic and resinous with a warm herbal sweetness and a faint eucalyptus lift — more robust and less perfumed than Provençal lavender honey.
- Thyme honeyWarm, herbal and savoury — thyme and dry stone, with a peppery lift and a very long finish.
- Alpine meadow honeyComplex and aromatic, with a herbal lift over warm caramel and a distinctly clean finish — the flavour of a great many plants rather than of any one.
- Hymettus honeyIntensely aromatic and herbal, with a warm thyme character, a resinous maquis edge and a long finish that carries a distinct savoury note.
- Savory honeyIntensely herbal with a distinct peppery, almost oregano-like bite over a warm sweetness — one of the more assertive Mediterranean aromatics.
- Narbonne rosemary honeyDelicate and clean with a soft herbal floral note and a texture that does much of the work — one of the classic pale European honeys.
- Dittany honeyIntensely aromatic and herbal with a distinct medicinal lift and a warm oregano character — closer to a herbal infusion than to a floral honey.
- Ak balMild, creamy and delicately floral with a faint herbal lift — the texture is much of the appeal, dense and smooth and dissolving rather than sticky.
- Tibetan highland honeyDense and strongly herbal with a resinous depth and a faintly smoky finish — a concentrated honey that reflects both a short intense season and traditional processing.
- Blue curls honeyExtremely delicate with a clean sweetness and a faint herbal lift — one of the mildest honeys there is, and prized for exactly that.
The rest of the year
Plan the season
- Seasonal bee planner
It is this season and I want to do this — what should I plant?
- Flowering calendar
What should I plant so that something is always in flower for bees?
- Bee-friendly garden planner
What should I plant in the space I actually have?